Nottingham Forest’s Quiet Start to the Summer Window and What’s Needed for Steve Cooper’s Side

For a team that signed a total of 21 players last summer and a total of 30 players over their first two transfer windows following their return to the Premier League, it has been a fairly inconspicuous start to the window for Nottingham Forest. Keylor Navas and Renan Lodi, both of whom were crucial in their narrow escape from relegation under Steve Cooper, have returned to Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, whilst the sole signing has been the arrival of Chris Wood from Newcastle for £15 million, although this option to buy was triggered in February after he made his third appearance after joining on loan.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Wood left for England in 2009 and has played for a wide range of clubs from West Brom to Leicester City, Brighton and Burnley, and after joining Forest in January, he would score one goal in seven league appearances before missing the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old has scored 33 goals and 7 assists in 70 appearances for the New Zealand national team including 20 goals and 5 assists in 26 World Cup qualifiers — you can find the best online casinos in New Zealand here:

Chris Wood will be competing for the starting center forward position alongside Sam Surridge and Taiwo Awoniyi, who struggled with injuries following his arrival from Union Berlin but nevertheless provided vital with 10 goals in 27 appearances. But with Wood struggling to find the back of the net at City Ground and Awoniyi’s compatriot Emmanuel Dennis headed for the exit door after one year at the club, Forest may be in the market for a center forward this summer.

Another position that will undoubtedly be a priority is the goalkeeper position. Dean Henderson and Navas vied for the starting spot last season but they have returned to Manchester United and PSG since. United look set to replace David De Gea with Andre Onana whilst Gianluigi Donnarumma remains first-choice in Paris — both players will likely be looking for a new permanent home and could return to Forest on permanent deals, or Forest could turn their attention elsewhere, having reportedly had a bid for Braga goalkeeper Matheus rejected by the Portuguese club.

Forest will likely try to pursue a permanent deal for Renan Lodi, who impressed at left back following his arrival from Atleti, but it is unclear whether the Brazilian would sanction a move to a club that won’t be playing European football next season as he looks to improve his chances of getting back into the Brazil squad. Other positions like winger and defensive midfielder could be of interest as well, but one thing’s for sure: we aren’t going to see the same whimsical transfer spree that took Europe by storm last summer.